Adopting in Ashburn

I am apparently the party person this week. My boyfriend Richard's birthday is today (festivities throughout the weekend with a party on Saturday), my counterpart at work has her last day on Friday so there's a send-off for her, and one of my favorite volleyball folks is having a baby shower on Sunday. My kitchen has become a bakery of deliciousness - pictures to be posted soon - and there are various bags of presents and surprises scattered throughout my house. With all of the craziness going on in my life (to be elaborated on AFTER this week of parties is over), it's nice to be celebrating the fabulousness of change. Another year for Richard. School and a new career for SC (Super Colleague). Life, literally for Jen. In other barely tangentially related news, all of the long term setters in my life (that's a volleyball position for you non-sports folks) have been named Jen(n). An odd coincidence for someone who's been playing ball for 14 years. Also, let it be know...

There's no power in the 'verse that can stop me. Not you, thee faithless in my skills. Not you, thee weak of heart and lacking in courage. Not you, forces of awful interpersonal communication. Not you, thee unwilling to do something for another - even a friend. Not you, onions I cut way too thin and burned while trying to make onion rings (without a recipe). I am strong and have faith in my abilities. I am brave and pure of heart. I am a master communicator (literally). I am a friend. I am going to have to start reading recipes before I cook. No power in the 'verse can stop me.

Anyone who ever visited my room in college probably noticed I'm a bit of a collage fanatic. There is just something so relaxing about cutting out fun things from print publications and then rearranging them, laying them out, and gluing them together to make art. Something that is perfectly me, perfectly creative and fun to look at, perfectly smart and put-together, perfectly perfect. That urge to take something I find useful and wonderful on its own and then make it greater by simply rearranging sneaks into other parts of my life. It is how I schedule, edit my writing, decorate my house, frame pictures, make dinner ... you name it. Today at work I had one of those moments - the ones you always hope for at work - where you know you actually got something done and were really able to help someone. A colleague had been working on a multi-page document that looked really text heavy and lacked cohesiveness. I took a pair of scissors and a glue stick and got started. I cut about 2 inches...

... not getting aggravated with stupid people. I swear, if I wasn't such a people-person, I would really not like people (in the plural, impeding-my-path form). I love my readers, my family, my friends, most strangers (as individuals), and a fair number of co-workers, former classmates, residents, and students. But there is something inside of me that just gets set on fire when someone ceases to use their brain. If I wasn't nicer (and anti-murder), I would definitely plot ways to undo some of the social constructs that prevent "survival of the fittest" from happening. There's a good chance the writer's block I've been experiencing all afternoon has effected my mood. I apologize. Love always, ~Heather